Just One Wish (The Kingston Family #4.5)(7)

“So the trip was successful?”

Axel grinned. “Got a date at seven tonight.” And he planned to do his best to charm Tara and get to know her again.

Xander nodded. “Good! You should go get ready.” He tipped his head toward the gate he’d come through.

“Nah. I’ve got plenty of time.” Axel straightened his legs on the lounge and settled in.

“You could just … go anyway.”

“Are you throwing me out? Is that what you used to do to Dash?” Before the lead singer became involved with Cassidy and stopped coming by as often for company.

Xander opened his mouth, but before he could answer, the door to the house slid open again, and Sasha walked out, two large, cold drinks in her hands.

“Hi, guys. I thought you might want some iced tea.” She handed each of them a glass. “How was your … excursion with Bella?” she asked.

“He got himself a date tonight,” Xander replied.

“Really? That’s great. Who is she?” Sasha asked, folding her arms across her chest.

“Umm, about that…” Dash met her gaze. “Turns out she’s your vet.”

“Dr. Stillman?” Xander asked.

“Tara?” Sasha asked at the same time.

Just hearing her name had him smiling. “We were together in high school, and we broke up after graduation. I went to do my thing in LA and audition with bands, and she went to college in New York.”

“And she stayed,” Sasha said, sitting down on the edge of his chair, her interest in their history obviously piqued.

“That wasn’t her plan. She always wanted to go into her dad’s practice outside LA, but I found out today he passed away not long after I left.”

He sobered at the thought, knowing she’d probably been dealing with their breakup at the time of her father’s death. He hadn’t known. They’d agreed not to keep in touch because they knew it would be too hard.

“And you both ended up not just on the East Coast but here in East Hampton,” Sasha mused. “Talk about fate.”

He fucking hoped so.





Chapter Three


Tara’s last appointment for the day cancelled, and she was able to leave the office early, giving herself extra time to get ready for her date with Axel. When she’d woken up this morning, she’d never expected to see her ex-boyfriend and first love stride into her office with a borrowed dog as a ruse to see her again. Never mind accepting a date with him tonight. Nerves fluttered in her stomach at the thought.

Her doorbell rang, and she walked through the small gatehouse on her mom and stepfather’s property where she lived, to find her stepsister at the front door.

“Amy, hi! What are you doing here?”

Her stepsister, a strawberry blonde with a curvy body and bubbly personality, strode past her and into the house. “We have to talk, and I need to help you pick out clothes for your date tonight.”

“Good God, word travels fast,” Tara muttered.

“Your mom is beyond excited.”

Tara closed the door. “I’m sure she is.”

Her mom wanted nothing more than for Tara to settle down with a nice man. With Axel’s return, that desire would be magnified. Her mother had always liked him and felt bad about his home situation, being raised by his grandma after his parents died when he was young.

“It doesn’t help that you’re five years younger than me and getting married soon,” Tara said, laughing. Because she was happy for Amy, she truly was.

“Marsha loves you. Don’t mind your mom’s pushiness.”

“Says you because you’re not the one she’s pushing,” Tara muttered.

“Is it true your ex is Axel Forrester? As in Caged Chaos’s and now the Original Kings’ drummer?”

“Yes. That’s him.”

Amy’s blue eyes lit up at her confirmation. “That is so cool. I can’t wait to meet him.”

Tara didn’t tell her to slow her roll, but she thought it. She had to get through this first date. She certainly wasn’t planning on family meet and greets.

“Let’s go pick out clothes!” Amy grasped Tara’s hand and pulled her toward her bedroom, obviously determined to be in charge. “You’re still coming to my bachelorette party Saturday night, right?”

“I wouldn’t miss it,” Tara assured her stepsister.

Was she looking forward to hanging out with Amy’s younger friends who still liked to party and drink the night away? And who’d likely hired a male stripper as the night’s entertainment?

Not really. But when Marsha and Amy’s dad, Glenn, married, Tara had had a difficult time feeling like a part of the family. It was Amy who’d latched on to Tara and pulled her into their new family unit. Tara would show up to the bachelorette party because she loved her stepsister.

“If you want me to help you choose an outfit for that, too, I’m happy to help,” Amy said, leading the way into Tara’s bedroom.

She couldn’t help but laugh at Amy’s enthusiasm and excitement. “Okay, you can help me choose both outfits.”

Amy flopped onto the bed. “Show me what you were thinking about wearing.”

Half an hour later, they’d come up with two outfits that Tara felt good in, then she caught up with her sister until Amy announced it was time for her to get home.